UP Assembly adjourned amid furore

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly was adjourned today followed by some agitated SP members demanding resignation of Minister of State for Animal Husbandary Awadhpal Singh Yadav following his remarks on their party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav and his family.

Anti-government slogans were raised in the Legislative Assembly by SP members that led to the adjournment of the House till the Question Hour. As soon as the House commenced, SP leader Ambika Chowdhury asked Assembly Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar to seek an apology from the Minister and even demanding suspension of party MLA Irfan Solanki.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma defended the Minister saying that whatever he said should not be treated as an insult to anyone and the leader of the Opposition should not drag the matter further. SP member Azam Khan in reply said that Verma might be right but the way in which the Minister spoke yesterday was "indecent."

Pushing the matter further, Yadav interrupted saying that he had done nothing wrong and will not seek an apology that led to the SP members shouting the anti-government slogans, which even garnered support from BSP members. Amidst the din, the Speaker felt relevant to adjourn the House for the Question Hour.

Even at the Legislative Council, SP members jumped into the well of the House making similar leading to adjournment of Question Hour by Chairman Ganesh Shankar Pandey.